Centrifugal force energy conserving mechanism

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for orbiting a machine member in a noncircular orbit at high speeds, such as a sliding vane in a rotary pump or engine which vane changes its position from the center of rotation of the rotor in which it is mounted outwardly and inwardly and thus changes it position for balancing. The invention utilizes a pendulum weight to alternately store and release energy to assist in restoring the sliding vane to its median balanced position.

United States Patent lnventor Allred E. Timperley 85 Chestnut Drive,East Greenwich, RJ. 028l8 Appl. No. 869,133

Filed Oct. 24, 1969 Patented June 29, 1971 CENTRIFUGAL FORCE ENERGYCONSERVING MECHANISM 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

U.S.C| 418/151, 418/238, 1118/262, 418/264 Int. Cl F01C 21/00, F04C15/00,F01C 1/00 Field 0f Search 418/151,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 488,723 l2/l892 Taber418/262 563,814 7/1896 Steinkoenig 418/238 706,077 8/1902 Mason 91/1323,3 l8,255 5/1967 Timperley 418/151 Primary Examiner-Carlton R` CroyleAssistant Examiner-John J. Vrablik Atlorney- Barlow and Barlow ABSTRACT:A mechanism for orbiting a machine member in a noncircular orbit at highspeeds, such as a sliding vane in a rotary pump or engine which vanechanges its position from 'the center of rotation of the rotor in whichit is mounted outwardly and inwardly and thus changes it position forbalancing. The invention utilizes a pendulum weight to alternately storeand release energy to assist in restoring the sliding vane to its medianbalanced position.

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ATTORNEYS PATENTEU JUN29 Isn SHEET a nF 3 INVENTOR ALFRED E. TIMPERLEYATTORNEYS PATENEnJuNaslQ'n 3,589,842

sum 3 0F 3 INVENTOR ALFRED E. T IMPERLEY ATTORNEYS CENTRIFUGAL FORCEENERGY CONSERVING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In my U.S.Patent 65 3,318,255 dated May 9, 1967, I have found that high-speedoperation cannot be attained practically due to the tremendouscentrifugal force which is generated by the noncircular path of movementof a sliding vane. For example, an orbiting sliding vane 6 inches fromthe center of orbit will be subjected to 1,000 times the force ofgravity at only 2,400 revolutions per minute, and to move this vaneinwardly would require a force of about 1,000 times its weight. Thisforce would have to be applied once each revolution or 2,400 times perminute at 2,400 revolutions per minute, and while balancing may beaccomplished by providing the same weight on the opposite side of thepivot, such balancing overcomes vibration but does not overcome theproblem of centrifugal force. Rather such balancing compounds theproblem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have overcome the above-mentioned problem ofcentrifugal force by convening the centrifugal force energy intopotential energy which may be used'to restore the body to its originalradius without the need of any additional energy (disregardingfriction). The mechanism which I have utilized for this purpose ofstoring energy in the form of potential energy and releasing it again isthe pendulum which is used to apply torquein a direction on the meansfor moving the sliding vane as a compensation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is an end view partly insection of the rotor and showing the balancing arrangement for onesliding vane;

FIG. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of FIG. I;

FIG, 3 is an exploded detail view of the lever showing the pendulumweight as a part thereof;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the rotor housing and the end platesin position with the gate or sliding vane mechanism omitted;

FIG. 5 is a fragmental end view of the cam slot in an'end plate of thehousing', and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the sliding vanes in variouspositions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The rotating chamber mechanismhere described is similar in many respects to the showing in my U.S.Pat. No. 3,318,255 dated May 9, 1967, but I have arranged a differentbalancing mechanism for the sliding lvane. With `reference to thedrawings and particularly FIG. 4, there is a casing designated I0 havinga circular enclosing wall 11 and end plates 12 and 13 which support ballbearings 14 and l5 in which the rotor designated generally 16 isrotatably mounted on shafts 17 and 18. The rotor has a body 19 and endflanges 20 and 2l which together with the casing 11 provide a chamber 22of generally annular shape.

The rotor (FIGS. l and 2) is cylindrical and provided with a pluralityof symmetrically arranged guide slots 25 extending inwardly from itsperiphery 26. A sliding vane 27 is located in the guide slot of thisrotor This vane is actuated by rods 28 extending thru the bottom wall 29of the guide slot 25 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). These rods are secured to abalancing bar 30 by a pin and locking screw 40. The bar 30 extendsoutwardly thru the slots 3l in the flanges 20 and 2l of the rotor and isguided by the walls of these slots. A fulcrum rod 35 extends axially ofthe rotor 16 thru the flanges of the rotor (see FIGS. 1 and 2) uponwhich there is provided the lever 36 (see also FIG. 3). This lever isbifurcated at one end 37 which receives a link 38 in the bifurcationheld therein by pin 39, which link 38 is -rotatably connected to thebalancing bar 30. A boss 4l on this lever 36 engages a bushing 42secured to flange plates 20 and 21 to maintain the lever 36 in itsdesired position in a space 43 between the rotor 16 and casing 12 (FIG.4). A pendulum weight 44 on the opposite side of the pivot rod 35 fromthe connection of the lever 36 to the balancing bar is provided. A camfollower 45 is secured on the lever 36 by stud 45a to enter a channel 46of cam shape in the end plates for controlling the movement of the leverand in turn the movement of the gate 27 in its slot 25` ln the medianposition, the weight of the balance bar plus the connecting link plus1/2 the weight of the lever arm are designed of such a weight so as toexactly balance the sliding vane. Note that in FIG. 6 position A, allpans being designated by suffix A, the radial line of centrifugal forcepasses through fulcrum 35A and the center of balance of the pendulumweight 44A so the torque on the pendulum must be zero; i.e. theeffective lever length is zero so zero times the weight is zero. Whenthe sliding vane is moved out toward its fully extended position at B,all parts being designated with suffix B, centrifugal force on the vaneis increased by reason of its, increased radius. It is this increase incentrifugal force energy that is used to raise the pendulum weight awayfrom its radial line of centrifugal force by means of its lever 36B. Asthe pendulum is lifted, centrifugal force energy is changed to potentialenergy. The weight of the pendulum is calculated to use all the energyavailable, by so doing equilibrium is maintained throughout themovement. To calculate the weight and force of the pendulum thefollowing formula may be used: F=R YW/L where Y=Effective lever lengthof pendulum in inches W=Weight of pendulum in lbs.

L=Lever arm length in inches F=Force in inch lbs.

R=Distance center of rotation of rotor to center of balance of pendulum.The pendulum is ideal for this purpose because it has the marvelousfaculty of an infinite number of increments of effective lever armlength from 0 up to maximum and hence one weight can be used to give avarying torque from Oto its maximum in both directions -land When thesliding vane reaches its fully extended position at 27B the pendulum hasbeenY raised distance Y which is the same distance as the effectivelever arm length of the pendulum weight 44B. Now as the sliding vane andthe pendulum moves back toward its median position as at 44A thepotential energy is released in the form of a torque on lever 36B whichexerts a force through the link 38 to the balance bar 30B which helps toretract the sliding vane. When it reaches the median position at 27A and44A the torque arm length is o and so the torque is O as it should be.As it continues to move, the pendulum is raised again only this time onthe other side of the radial line of centrifugal force as shown at 44C.As it moves toward this retracted position at 44C, the increasedcentrifugal force on the balance bar 30C provides the energy to lift thependulum. As the pendulum is lifted, it becomes heavier, but also, asthe balance bar moves out, its centrifugal force is increased. These twoforces occur in the right proportion because they have a common radius.Note that distances Z and Y are the same as the movement of the slidingvane 27. When the pendulum moves through its are the centrifugal forcethereon will diminish slightly because it moves in toward the center ofrotation of the rotor only very slightly. Also its center of balancewill shift slightly. These two things can easily be compensated for.There is thus described a raised pendulum containing just enoughpotential energy to return the balance bar and also the sliding vane toits original balanced median position without having to overcome anyunbalanced condition. The cam follower roll is attached to the lever armin such a position as to facilitate easy action, both inwardly andmomentum of this oscillating pendulum lever. l have found it desirableto compromise between the two forces, momentum and centrifugal. If thependulum is designed slightly heavy, then at the two extreme positions,plus and minus, this excess weight will aid in bringing the pendulum toa halt. Then when v it stops, torque will aid in getting it startedagain in other direction. The momentum will tend to swing thru to theother side and the excess weight will not be detrimental but rather willhave some advantage in the extending and retracting of the sliding vane,and a shorter cam can be used than would otherwise be practical.

I claim:

l. ln a rotary mechanism, a rotor having an axis of rotation, areciprocating member in .said rotor on one side and a balance bar on theother side of the axis of rotation of said rotor, means connecting saidmember and bar together, said bar balancing said member in one medianposition, a pivot on said rotor parallel'to and spaced from said axis ofrotation, a pendulum like weight and lever mounted on said pivot andcoupled to said balance bar to swing in a plane at right angles to saidaxis, said pendulum like weight and lever so positioned in relation tothe center of rotation as to exert no torque and consequently no forceonthe balance bar at the median position, positive torque and consequentlypositive force on the balance bar with the member in the extendedposition, and negative torque and consequently negative force on thebalance bar with the member in the retracted position, the lmagnitude ofthe torque calculated so as to balance the magnitude of the centrifugalforces that act on the said member and the balance bar whereby thetorque and centrifugal forces are kept in equilibrium as the rotorrotates and the member reciprocates and no additional energy is neededto overcome centrifugal force.

2. In a rotary mechanism as in claim l wherein the pendulum like weighedlever has its median position with its weight center of balance, itspivot, and the axis of rotation in line.

3. ln a rotary mechanism as in claim l wherein the rotor is mounted in ahousing and means to slide said reciprocating member comprises a camchannel in said housing and a cam follower attached to said pendulum andriding in said cam channel.

4. ln a rotary mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said reciprocating memberis a sliding vane.

1. In a rotary mechanism, a rotor having an axis of rotation, areciprocating member in said rotor on one side and a balance bar on theother side of the axis of rotation of said rotor, means connecting saidmember and bar together, said bar balancing said member in one medianposition, a pivot on said rotor parallel to and spaced from said axis ofrotation, a pendulum like weight and lever mounted on said pivot andcoupled to said balance bar to swing in a plane at right angles to saidaxis, said pendulum like weight and lever so positioned in relation tothe center of rotation as to exert no torque and consequently no forceon the balance bar at the median position, positive torque andconsequently positive force on the balance bar with the member in theextended position, and negative torque and consequently negative forceon the balance bar with the member in the retracted position, themagnitude of the torque calculated so as to balance the magnitude of thecentrifugal forces that act on the said member and the balance barwhereby the torque and centrifugal forces are kept in equilibrium as therotor rotates and the member reciprocates and no additional energy isneeded to overcome centrifugal force.
 2. In a rotary mechanism as inclaim 1 wherein the pendulum like weighed lever has its median positionwith its weight center of balance, its pivot, and the axis of rotationin line.
 3. In a rotary mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the rotor ismounted in a housing and means to slide said reciprocating membercomprises a cam channel in said housing and a cam follower attached tosaid pendulum and riding in said cam channel.
 4. In a rotary mechanismas in claim 1 wherein said reciprocating member is a sliding vane.